Dan Hayes, to Run for Mayor of Bridgewater

Former Republican Mayor now endorsed as the Democratic Mayoral Candidate for the November General Election

BRIDGEWATER, NJ – In an unexpected yet significant political development, former Bridgewater Mayor, Dan Hayes, has announced his intention to run for Mayor again, but this time under the banner of the Democratic party. He has received the endorsement of the local and county Democratic party leadership in his bid to restore transparency, ethics, and professionalism in Bridgewater government.

In explaining his decision, Mayor Hayes, who changed his party affiliation in February of 2022, stated, “My passion for serving the people of Bridgewater has always been my guiding principle. It is not about a label, it is about actions that benefit our community, policies that uplift our shared values, and commitment to the people we serve.”

Saad Toor, who is the current Democratic candidate for Mayor, has willingly stepped aside and will now run on the Democratic ticket for a council seat. Toor noted, “I am honored to share the Democratic party line with Dan Hayes, his knowledge, experience, and vision for the residents of Bridgewater makes this a winning team. I look forward to working with Dan over the next several months as we present our plans for Bridgewater’s future.”

The emergence of Dan Hayes as the Democratic choice for Mayor came about as the result of Gigi Ksiazak’s decision to remove herself from the township council race. After consulting with family and friends and citing the need to balance the commitment to running for office and caring for her family, Ksiazak has made it clear that she continues to be deeply committed to the party and the residents of Bridgewater and fully supports the Democratic ticket of Hayes, Toor, and Baranowski.

“My commitment to the party and the people of Bridgewater remains steadfast. I have full confidence in the direction of our ticket and will continue to lend my support in any way possible to ensure that the Democratic ticket for Bridgewater emerges victorious,” stated Ksiazak.

Democratic County Chairwoman Peg Schaffer welcomed Hayes to the Democratic Party with open arms. Schaffer stated, “Although Hayes was a Republican Mayor, I always respected his commitment to the residents of Bridgewater and that despite any party differences, Dan always did what he believed was best for all of Bridgewater. Dan’s decision is a testament to his steadfast dedication to the people of Bridgewater, and his belief that effective public service transcends party lines.”

“I have known Dan for years. He is a strong community advocate and always maintained a positive working relationship with our schools. Dan stands in sharp contrast to the current Republican leadership which has failed to disclose the Attorney General’s Report on the 2022 mall incident, continues to pursue unwanted electronic billboards on our busy highways, continues to show its disregard of residents’ concerns, and maintains a willingness to hide the facts from the public in order to financially benefit their friends,” stated Jill Gladstone, Vice Chair of the Bridgewater Democratic Municipal Committee and former school board member.